NORMAN, Okla. – The Oklahoma men’s and women’s teams sit in first place after five Sooners were crowned individual champions on Saturday at the 2023 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championship at the John Jacobs Track and Field Complex in Norman, Oklahoma.
Forty-four points were registered by the Sooner men and women on Saturday, leading with 55 and 75 points, respectively. The Jayhawk men sit second with 51 points while second place Iowa State has 49 points in the women’s standings.
Saturday morning started with the conclusion of the combined events where Texas’ Kristine Blazevica defended her title for the third consecutive year and was four points away from setting the Conference’s heptathlon record with her total of 6,146 points. OU’s Kristo Simulask was declared the repeat champion of the decathlon scoring 7,769 points.
Texas’ Ackelia Smith set the meet and facility records in the long jump, leaping 7.08 meters. The previous Big 12 record was 6.97 meters. The clearance was a personal best for the sophomore and is the nation’s qualifying leader. Already claiming this season’s indoor long jump title, Nikaoli Williams leapt 7.80 meters and became the first Sooner to win the outdoor event.
Iowa State’s Kevin Sakson earned his first-career Big 12 title in the shot put (18.92 meters) while Oklahoma’s Payden Montana (17.65 meters) claimed the women’s event title.
OU senior Vernon Turner won his second straight outdoor high jump Big 12 championship title after registering the nation’s leading jump of 2.30 meters.
Due to weather, the women’s pole vault was contested indoors. The reigning outdoor Big 12 pole vault champion, Olivia Leuking, defended her title clearing 4.25 meters.
West Virginia’s Ceili McCabe (10:12.79) won her third 3,000-meter steeplechase Big 12 title while Oklahoma State’s Victor Shitsama (8:33.59) claimed the men’s title.
The final day of the Championship will begin on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ at 11:55 a.m. CT with events starting at Noon CT. An awards presentation will be held following the conclusion of the last event.
Team Standings
| Men’s |
Women’s |
| Oklahoma – 55 |
Oklahoma – 75 |
| Kansas – 51 |
Iowa State – 49 |
| Iowa State – 47 |
Texas – 44 |
| Texas – 42.5 |
K-State – 38 |
| Oklahoma State – 42 |
Oklahoma State – 34 |
| Texas Tech – 30.5 |
TCU – 19 |
| K-State – 27 |
Kansas – 18 |
| Baylor – 17 |
Texas Tech – 17 |
| TCU – 0 |
West Virginia – 16 |
|
Baylor – 2 |
Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Individual Champions – Day Two
Women:
Heptathlon: Kristine Blazevica, Texas – 6,146 points
Long Jump: Ackelia Smith, Texas – 7.08m*
Pole Vault: Olivia Lueking, Oklahoma – 4.25m
Shot put: Payden Montana, Oklahoma – 17.65m
3,000-meter Steeplechase: Ceili McCabe, West Virginia – 10:12.79
Men:
Decathlon: Kristo Simulask, Oklahoma – 7,769 points
High Jump: Vernon Turner, Oklahoma – 2.30m (d1 q leader)
Long Jump: Nikaoli Williams, Oklahoma – 7.80m
Shot put: Kevin Sakson, Iowa State – 18.92m (season best)
3,000-meter Steeplechase: Victor Shitsama, Oklahoma State – 8:33.59
* Big 12 Outdoor Championship Record